How much digital memory should I take?

Last Updated: Nov. 30, 2008

Tags: all countries, travel and tour advice

digital camera

More Tour and Travel Advice for: Australia, USA & Canada, Australia and New Zealand

When it comes to taking photos everyone is different, and there is no one answer but here are some thoughts from past travellers that may give you an idea.

Past Traveller’s Advice

“Went to Italy for 2 weeks and used almost 3×1gb cards”

-Dominique Giordano, Contiki Forums, Posted 19 Jun 2007

“I’m away in Sept for 2 months and I am considering taking 2×2gb memory cards… I like to take heaps of pics which make for great memories.”

-Nadia, Melbourne, Australia, Contiki Forums, Posted 19 Jun 2007

“Remember, memory cards can go corrupt. Do NOT get a brand new card before you go. Get it before so you can test it out, put them on your computer, and let it work for a while. If it works a few months before, it should be ok. You don’t want to spend $5000 on a vacation to lose 500 photos. I’m also taking my regular camera with a couple rolls of film [40 pictures] just in case something crazy happens. I’m also getting a water camera for the Austrian rafting.”

-Jeremy, Contiki Forums, Posted 19 Jun 2007

“For me, photos will be my main souvenir, I don’t intend to spend much while I’m in Europe and an extra $100 before I go on memory doesn’t seem too bad to me.

I went to NZ for 2 weeks and took 800photos, and I know that was minor, because I could only recharge my battery every 3 days (didn’t have power) so I was really careful. I could have taken more than triple. I’m going to Europe for a month so I probably only need 5 GB, but I’m taking extra just in case…”

-ashleightara, Brisbane, Australia, Contiki Forums, Posted 19 Jun 2007

Add a Comment Comments (4)

I took a 4G Memory Card on my 3 week trip: Spanish Spree, and Greek Island Hopping! Thank God I had no problems! I suggest a memory card with 2-4G, and then if you run out of space then you can just as easily find a photo place to upload photos onto a cd or put it onto a USB (which is a smart idea to bring one). Or you may get lucky – my Tour Manager had his lap top and was able to upload our photos and put them onto a cd for us, for only 2 euro (the cost of the cd) which was super helpful cause it didn’t waste any of our time while in a city, as he did it on the bus when we were traveling between countries!

Explorer1113956 posted on Oct. 03, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate
I just got 4×2GB memory cards from Costco (USA) for about $60. Memories are your best souvenirs so better to have more memory than you may need because you never know!

Maximus posted on Apr. 02, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate
One other suggestion I would make is don’t get one big card. Get many smaller cards. In the event that something goes wrong you’ll only lose one card and not everything.

jeymon posted on Feb. 07, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate
i also suggest prob taking a couple of usb port memory thingos coz then at most internet cafes they hav usb ports and u can tranfer the photos then just keep using the same card for ur camera

nazza1 posted on Dec. 11, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate